Creating a life simulator that’s both entertaining and a true reflection of reality is no small feat. Balancing customization with a semblance of structure requires finesse; it’s essential to craft a game where decisions feel meaningful yet grounded in a sense of challenge. Developer Krafton ventures into this complex territory with inZOI, particularly in its Early Access form. The game makes a striking first impression with its beautiful, realistic visuals, and the simulation mechanisms initially seem promising. However, the more time I spend immersed in its world, the more apparent the gaps become, revealing a universe that feels emptier than anticipated.
Let’s address the obvious: inZOI draws heavy comparisons to The Sims, a franchise that it clearly both respects and aims to rival. Here, you play the role of a supreme overseer, dictating the existence of digital beings—referred to as Zoi—as they navigate their often less-than-perfect lives. You’ll have the freedom to construct homes, fine-tune individual characteristics, and entangle them in local intrigues. While they maintain jobs, attend school, and roam the neighborhood, their level of autonomy is entirely in your hands. But dig a little deeper, and Krafton’s own spin on the genre starts to shine through.
Kicking off inZOI requires setting up your household via the Character Creator Studio. Here, you’re not just naming your characters but also selecting a Trait from 18 options like Authoritarian or Individualist. Each trait includes a sidebar summarizing how it influences in-game behavior. As a diligent freelancer, my choice was the Go-Getter trait, which emphasized professional activities and endearingly, made my Zoi a bit more prone to lingering nervousness. As your Zoi experiences life, their personality evolves, shaped by likes and dislikes such as fast food and fitness influences. While the ease of pre-defined traits is handy, it can feel slightly constraining.
When it comes to appearance, you’re given options aplenty, from using presets to meticulously tweaking facial features. I blended both methods to create a character that mirrored me closely, with the game’s detailed visual style enhancing that lifelike connection. Coordinating hair and makeup to match my own was a surprisingly enjoyable process.
But what elevates inZOI is its fashion element. During creation, you’re tasked with assembling nine distinct outfits, ranging from formal to season-appropriate gear. There’s a healthy mix of contemporary fashion, like parachute pants, alongside timeless pieces such as leather jackets. T-shirts come in varied lengths, allowing for layered, one-of-a-kind looks. Reveling in this aspect, I crafted a Y2K-inspired outfit replete with catchy leg warmers, trusty Doc Marten look-alikes, and an endearing oversized baseball jersey. Although the clothing physics occasionally clashed awkwardly with character models, this was one of inZOI’s more polished features, and I wholeheartedly enjoyed the dress-up aspect.
Once sartorial choices are settled, it’s time to house your family. inZOI currently showcases two locations: the Korean-themed city of Dowon and the laid-back Bliss Bay in California. You can either construct your dream home from scratch or choose a predesigned lot, all while accessing communal spaces like shops, cafes, and parks. Yet, this is where the game’s polished façade starts to crack. While Dowon’s streets glow under neon lights and Bliss Bay basks in a serene sunset, these settings feel somewhat hollow. Despite Krafton’s efforts to animate these environments, much of it is mere surface-level detail, creating an illusion of vibrancy without substance.
This sense of emptiness filters into the day-to-day interactions within the game. Managing basic needs like hunger and hygiene is straightforward, yet integrating the Zoi into the surrounding digital culture remains challenging. Despite having a Go-Getter personality, the real impact of this trait seemed insignificant compared to my other Zoi with opposing traits, who behaved similarly. The repetitive nature of conversation also becomes apparent quickly, with topics like Cryptocurrency cropping up repeatedly, offering a brief chuckle before becoming monotonous.
There are refreshing aspects, like the detailed treadmill displays or the realism of digital food that made me yearn for lunch. But even these well-executed elements highlight the simplicity of other interactions, making them seem disappointingly mechanical. Over time, my Zoi felt more like an automaton than a unique individual, performing actions without meaningful outcomes. Perhaps as they grow and socialize more diversely, their experiences will deepen, though the first 15 hours didn’t reveal much change.
Still, there’s an intriguing aspect to inZOI: its Karma system, where actions are scored as good or bad based on their ethical weight. At first, I was skeptical, but witnessing its consequences made it engaging. A capricious tantrum at the park followed by attempts to win a toy became a valuable lesson in Karma, which gripped me as my Zoi’s fortunes shifted with their actions.
inZOI in its current Early Access state shows promise, albeit with notable rough edges. The lifelike graphics and select intricate interactions are undermined by less immersive elements giving it a somewhat sterile vibe. Nonetheless, there’s hidden depth waiting to be explored, and I’m eager to see if inZOI can fulfill its ambitious goals, ahead of finalizing my thoughts on its complete offering at launch.
